Group Pastors: Both of These Can’t Be True
God uses community to mature and grow His people. Without the encouragement of others, sin hardens our hearts (Hebrews 3:13). As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Sin wants to have a man by himself.” Sin hates Christian community because true Christian community seeks the sanctification of its members. I believe in the power and necessity of Christian […]
Three Questions to Ask as You Discern the Culture of Your New Church
Realtors love the summer because it is a time when many families move. Kids have completed a school year, so summer provides a transitional season. When ministry leaders change roles, they often do so in the summer. I know this personally as our moves from Cincinnati to Miami and then Miami to Nashville both took […]
Eight Things Church Leaders Should Never Say About Leadership Development
What you say about leadership development, even in casual conversations, will inevitably impact the culture you are forming. Because how you speak of leadership development will influence perceptions about developing leaders, here are eight things church leaders should never say (if you think any of them, some rethinking is in order): It is not my job. […]
Four Hard Questions Pastors Should Continually Ask Themselves
When the apostle Paul challenged the believers in Philippi in their obedience to the Lord, he told them: “Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me” (Philippians 4:9). When he wrote the believers in Corinth, he said, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Though not perfect, […]
Three Challenges of Leading a Growing Church
There are some inherent blessings to serving on staff at a growing church. The energy and excitement are high as you are privileged to see new people coming to faith, new families being served, and new people being connected. The growth creates momentum and helps cover up mistakes that are more noticeable when you are […]
3 Reasons Pastors Should Reject Leadership Books
There are two polar opposite views about church leaders adding “leadership and business books” to their reading diet. On one extreme, there are people who consider it unspiritual and ludicrous for a church leader to read a leadership book written from a perspective that is not distinctly Christian. After all, what does leading an organization […]
Two Divisive (and Wrong) Definitions That Hurt the Church
Perhaps an unbiblical approach to ministry exists in many churches because an inaccurate vocabulary has infiltrated the people of God. When most people hear terms like “clergy” and “lay people,” certain images and definitions enter their minds. And these definitions are far from their original and intended meaning. Clergy Churches often think it makes sense […]
One Practical Reason Some Churches Struggle to Find a Pastor
In the last few years, several pastoral search teams at large and megachurches have asked me to offer insights I may have about the pool of candidates they are prayerfully considering pursuing to possibly become the church’s next senior pastor. And it has been fascinating to me that the lists are very similar. The same […]
I Should Have Just Gotten a Haircut Earlier
Brandon Hiltibidal is a good friend and a great brother in the Lord. We served together at Christ Fellowship in Miami, where I was executive pastor and he was one of our campus pastors. He first led worship and was a graphic artist. He is one of those uber-talented guys who can do multiple things […]
Don’t Blame Your Schedule For Your Burnout
The following is a post by Ed Stetzer. Ed is the Executive Director of LifeWay Research, an author, a blogger at Christianity Today, and the pastor of Grace Church. This was originally posted on the LifeWay Church Leaders blog. We live in a world that is defined by boundaries. Our roads are painted with them, […]